The Texans may need an act of God to finally answer their prayers for a quarterback who will provide the consistency and stability that have been missing since Bill O'Brien was hired in 2014.

Because they know Tony Romo isn't part of the equation, the Texans can focus on quarterbacks who are available in the draft. They need to find a prospect who has the potential to save them from a predicament that has become an annual embarrassment for the organization.

When the Texans begin their offseason program April 17, veterans Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden will be the starter and backup. They need another one.

The problem is that each of the three-best prospects could be gone before general manager Rick Smith makes the 25th pick in the first round.

Could Smith spend what it would take to trade up considering he already surrendered their 2018 second-round pick to Cleveland in the Brock Osweiler trade? Perhaps a few spots, but don't expect him to deal multiple first- and second-round picks to move up in the top five or even the top 10. That just hasn't been his draft philosophy, and no quarterback in this draft is worth that kind of ransom anyway. For an opportunity to get one of the three who are projected to go in the first round - Trubisky, Watson and the fast-rising Mahomes - the Texans need for teams that could take quarterbacks in the first round to bypass them for other positions.

Before looking at the teams ahead of the Texans who could select a quarterback, let's examine the top three.

Trubisky has the size, arm strength and ability scouts like, but he started only one season at North Carolina. That scares a lot of coaches.

Watson was a multiple-season starter who played his best in big games, including leading Clemson to a national championship victory over Alabama. He destroyed Alabama's defense in the last two championship games. He's an incredible athlete who must learn to play more from the pocket, and he threw a lot of interceptions that concern scouts and coaches.

Mahomes was a three-year starter at Texas Tech. He has the best arm in the draft and terrific mobility. The more teams have studied him and gotten to know him, the more they like him. Like Watson, he threw too many interceptions. He has to control his gunslinger mentality at the next level.

There are a lot of teams that need quarterbacks, including four that have established starters who have turned 35 and might elect to groom eventual replacements.

Cleveland and San Francisco are desperate for prospects, but they're not going to use the first and second overall picks on that position.

The first team the Texans need to worry about is the New York Jets, who have the sixth overall pick.

General manager Mike Maccagnan has drafted a quarterback - Bryce Petty (fourth round) and Christian Hackenberg (second) - in each of his first two years while in charge of their draft.

The Jets have a lot of needs. Unless Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles believe one of this year's prospects can become the franchise quarterback they need, they'll use the pick on a player at another position who can start and make an immediate impact.

The Los Angeles Chargers have the seventh pick. Philip Rivers is 35 and one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL. He may play until he's 40. With a new coach in Anthony Lynn, they need a player who can start right away.

Some think Buffalo will take a quarterback at No. 10, but the Bills just committed to Tyrod Taylor.

New Orleans has the 11th pick. Drew Brees is 38, but he has shown no signs of his age and wants to keep playing.

The Browns have the 12th overall pick and seem certain to take a quarterback. Nobody knows which quarterback they like the most, so take one off the board.

Arizona is next. Carson Palmer is 37. Coach Bruce Arians likes to develop young quarterbacks. It won't be surprising if the Cardinals take the second quarterback off the board.